Montana State education department works to address statewide teacher shortage

At the end of November in Montana, there were 51 openings for special education teachers, and a report on the state's teacher shortage last year identified special education as one of the top three critical shortage areas in Montana.

At the same time, many Montana children need and benefit from the services that special education teachers provide, according to Leslie Rogers, assistant professor in the Montana State University Department of Education and an expert in special education. Those include both children on individual education plans, or IEPs, and the general student body.

"What specia...